India and Bangladesh U-19 Captains Avoid Handshake at World Cup Toss
India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar skipped the traditional handshake before their Group A match in the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It highlighted the ongoing strain in relations between the two neighboring countries.
Delayed Toss Leads to Awkward Moment
Light drizzle delayed the toss by over fifteen minutes. When the captains finally walked out, neither player initiated the customary exchange of pleasantries. Both sides completed their broadcast interviews after Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first. They then returned directly to their dressing rooms without any interaction.
Following a Broader Indian Team Policy
This move aligns with a 'no-handshake' stance adopted by the Indian men's senior team. During the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025, Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts across all three matches. They also declined to accept the tournament trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister.
Indian women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur later followed the same policy during an ICC Women's ODI World Cup match. The Indian Under-19 team also observed it during their group-stage fixture against Pakistan at last month's U-19 Asia Cup.
Worsening Bilateral Tensions Spill into Cricket
Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated significantly in recent months. The decline follows violent incidents linked to the death of a Bangladeshi student leader and the lynching of a Hindu man. These political tensions have now directly impacted cricket administration.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a directive to IPL franchises. Following this, the Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) initially refused to issue a No-Objection Certificate for Mustafizur's IPL participation.
Subsequently, the BCB escalated matters by writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC). They requested that Bangladesh's matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup be shifted to Sri Lanka. The board cited security concerns amid the escalating tensions between the two nations.
The skipped handshake at the Under-19 World Cup serves as a visible symbol of these deep-seated diplomatic and sporting frictions.
